Rev. Ursula Meier

Meier uses faith to turn life around
Director uses experiene to get people's lives back on track

By CASSAUNDRA BABER
Observer-Dispatch
cbaber@utica.gannett.com

UTICA - Nineteen years ago, the Rev. Ursula Meier was told there was no hope for her recovery from drugs.

She rejected her psychiatrist's statement and entered a long-term treatment facility in Switzerland where she lived.

Two and a half years later she proved her psychiatrist wrong. That's when she said she knew she had to give hope to others like her.
"After I got myself together there was a calling to help other troublemakers," said Meier, 39. She began reaching out to women and men much like her before recovery.

In Switzerland, she founded and led a recreation program for the homeless. Soon after, she studied at Pinecrest Bible Center in Salisbury where she was led to the Rev. Maria Scates JCTOD Outreach Inc. in Cornhill.

"I was impressed because what she did was something I wanted to do," Meier said. "I asked her for a half-year internship, and I'm still here."

Eight years later, she is the operations director at the JCTOD, which provides housing and support services for the homeless, youth, women, elderly, mentally disabled and substance abusers.

"She truly lives by faith and brings hope to all who know her," Oneida County Public Defender Frank J. Furno said in his nomination letter.
He recognized Meier as instrumental in creating recreation activities for Cornhill youths, food and nutrition programs, Utica's first Youth Block Association and a family crisis shelter.

Furno said Meier is one of the "most selfless, hard-working people I've ever met."

"She is an inspiration," Furno said in a recent phone interview. "She personifies hard work and organization. She gives off the attitude that there's nothing that can't be done."

Scates said she always is impressed by Meier's show of leadership and compassion.

"She is able to relate to the women who are substance abusers. She is able to relate to the trauma," Scates said.

Scates recalled how Meier was able to convince a user who was cutting herself to recognize life as worth living. She also remembered Meier saving the same woman a second time from suicide.

"One time she was at the train station and Rev. Meier convinced her to get off the tracks," Scates said. "Those are the moments that really stay with me."

Not all moments are rewarding, admitted Meier. But that's the beauty of faith, she added.

"I think sometimes if you're hurt or someone makes you upset and you've vested all you had, and people relapse, I have to work through those emotions," Meier said. "I get strength from God. It's where I get comfort."

Serving the poorest and neediest in the community is not a 9 to 5 job, said Meier. In fact, for Meier her service at JCTOD isn't a job at all - it's a lifetime commitment. Meier isn't paid for her service monetarily.
Scates said one of the most remarkable things about Meier is her ability to adapt.

"She has lots of skills and talents - from being a computer expert to being an expert with a hammer," Scates said. "She puts in doors and windows, and she loves the snow blower."